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H.R. 1177: U.S. Citizenship Act

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H.R. 1177: U.S. Citizenship Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-02-18 · Immigration · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-02-18 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

U.S. Citizenship Act

Plain summary

U.S. Citizenship Act This bill establishes a path to citizenship for certain undocumented individuals. The bill also replaces the term alien with noncitizen in the immigration statutes and addresses other related issues. Specifically, the bill establishes a new status of lawful prospective immigrant . This status shall be available to an applying noncitizen who meets certain requirements, including being continually present in the United States from January 1, 2021, and passing background checks. After at least five years with this status, an eligible noncitizen may apply for and receive permanent resident status. The bill also provides permanent resident status to certain applying noncitizens, specifically for eligible noncitizens who (1) entered the United States as a minor, (2) were eligible for temporary protected status or deferred enforced departure on January 1, 2017, or (3) worked a certain amount of agricultural labor in the five years prior to applying. Among other things, the bill also redefines for immigration purposes the term conviction to exclude convictions that have been expunged or vacated, requires the Department of State to implement a strategy to advance reforms in Central America and address key factors contributing to migration from the region to the United States, requires the State Department to establish refugee processing centers in Central America, requires Customs and Border Patrol sectors and stations to have a certain number of employees with certain qualifications such as paramedic training, generally prohibits religious discrimination in granting or denying immigration benefits, and establishes grant programs for providing training and services to immigrants.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

U.S. Citizenship Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

Arguments for (supporters)

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Arguments against (opponents)

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] · 153 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Judy Chu (D-CA), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Darren Soto (D-FL), Mike Levin (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Bradley Scott Schneider (D-IL), Ted Lieu (D-CA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Al Green (D-TX), Thomas R. Suozzi (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and 93 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] reported raising $1.9 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Statute
A written law passed by a legislature. A statute can be changed by a later law; changing a constitution needs an amendment.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr1177 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117